Laryngeal speculum



l July 7, 1942. R. voN FOREGGER LARYNGEAL SPECULUM Filed March 10, 1941 isi.

Patented July 7, 1942 UNHTED STATES PATENT GFFICE LARYNGEAL SPECULUM Richard von Foregger, Roslyn, N. Y., assignor to William N. Allyn, Skaneateles, N. Y.

Application liarch l0, 1941, Serial No. 382,655

(Cl. 12S-16) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to instruments used in the practice of laryngoscopy and more especially to an improved laryngeal speculum. This instrument is a most essential one in the practice of the nose and throat specialist, making it easy to expose the eld in the asphyxiated and anaesthetized subject by means of the strong blade member which extends generally laterally to the usual handle which carries the blade, the blade customarily having a4 small illuminating lamp mounted at the distal end thereof.

I-Ieretoforainstruments of this type, the laryngeal blade is so fixed to the handle as to be always rigid therewith and projecting perpendicular therefrom or at a small angle from the perpendicular. Because of its size and irregular shape, it does not readily lend itself to'con- Venient transportation in the physicians instrument case or kit, occupying so much space as to be frequently discarded in favor of other instruments or paraphernalia.

There are certain fields in which the physician is frequently called upon to save life where a delay or lack of suitable instruments would prove fatal. This is especially true in the case of the civil and military ambulance surgeon, and even the general practitioner who may have to handle emergencies in the home and elsewhere away from base or a fully equipped hospital.

It is with these factors in view that I have developed the instrument which constitutes the present invention and which fullls a long felt need for a strong, compactly, foldable and quickly extensible laryngeal speculum.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a support, preferably of the battery handle type for containing dry-cells as a source of electrical energy supply, the support having a laryngeal blade, preferably carrying an electric lamp, pivotally mounted at one end of the battery handle and movable from an operative position extending generally laterally from the handle, to an inoperative or collapsed position lying close alongside and generally parallel to the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an instrument of the aforementioned character a simple latch or holding means of the quickly-releasable type for rigidly holding the laryngeal blade in its extended operative position- A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple and eiective circuit controlling means for the electric lamp circuit, which circuit controlling means is automatically operated responsive to pivotal movement of the laryngeal blade.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a handle support having a self-contained source of electrical energy operatively connected to an electrical contact disposed at the upper end vof the support and engageable with a cooperating movable electrical Contact carried by a laryngeal blade pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of the support, the movable contact being connected in circuit with an electric lamp, mounted on the laryngeal blade for energizing the lamp when the cooperating contacts are engaged by pivotal movement of the blade to a position extending laterally from the support, and for deenergizing the lamp when the blade is folded to a collapsed position alongside the support.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved detachable hinge connection between the support and laryngeal blade which permits simple and quick exchange or interchange of blades.

Other and further objects of the invention Will be hereinafter described, and the' novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.v

In the drawing:

Figure l is a View in side elevation of a laryngealV speculum which is constructed in accordance with the present invention, the full lines illustrating the extended, operative position'of the laryngeal blade with the illuminating lamp energized, and the broken lines illustrating the folded, inoperative position of the blade with the lamp deenergized;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional'view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure l, withthe laryngeal blade disposed in its folded, inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the laryngeal blade as seen when detached from the supporting handle;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the laryngeal blade as seen when detached from the supporting handle; and

Figure 5 'is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 5--5 of Figure l, through the upper portion of the instrument.

Like .reference characters designate corresponding parts lin the several gures of the drawing, wherein i'generally denotes a supporting handle which is preferably of the type containing one or more dry-cells 2 which constitute a source of electrical energy. To the upper end of the battery handle l a laryngeal blade generally designated 3 is pivotally connected as at '4, the 4laryngeal blade carrying a small but powerful electric lamp 5 which is connected in Ycircuit through suitable cooperating electric contacts E, l with the dry-cells 2 when the laryngealblade is swung from its folded or collapsed position shown in broken lines in Figure 1, to its operative, extended position shown in full lines in this figure. It will be understood, of course, that instead of employing a supporting handle l having a self-contained source of electrical energy, the handle may be provided with an extension cord which can be plugged into any convenient electrical outlet. However, for use in the iield,

that is, away from a convenient source of electrical supply, the self-contained type of battery handle is preferred, as specifically illustrated in the drawing.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the battery handle I includes a cylindrical body 8 having a cap 9 detachably connected to its lower end, as by means of the bayonet and slot connecting instrumentalities IIJ. A coiled pressure spring I I is mounted in the cap and bears against the bottom of the dry-cells 2 to ground one side of the electrical circuit as is conventionally done in an ordinary flashlight.

Attached to the upper end of the cylindrical case 8 is a closure I2 which is preferably removably secured to the case 8 by screws I3 which extend through the case and into the lower end of the closure I2 which projects into the upper end of the case for a short distance, the closure being provided with suitable threaded openings to receive the screws I3. The upper portion of the closure I2 is provided with a reduced neck I4 forming a shoulder I5 which serves a purpose which will hereinafter be more particularly described.

The upper end of the closure I2 terminates in a fiat transverse face I'u, and the closure I2 is provided with a central bore I"I extending therethrough from top to bottom thereof. Disposed in the bore I'I is a tubular sleeve I8 of suitable insulating material such as. hard rubber, ber, or the like, the sleeve being fixed in the bore I1 against axial displacement in any convenient manner as by meansV of threaded engagement of the sleeve with threads formed interlorly of the bore I'I. Disposed within the sleeve I8 and preferably threadedly engaged therewith is a barrel I9 having an axial bore 29 extending from the lower end thereof to a point near the upper end thereof, at which point the bore is continued to the upper end of the barrel in the form of an opening 2| of reduced size. Loosely mounted in the opening 2| is a spring pressed plunger I having an enlarged head 23 on the lower end thereof and received in the enlarged bore 2D in the barrel I9. The head 23 on the lower end of the plunger I is recessed to form a seat for the upper end of a coil spring 24. The lower end ofthe coil spring 24 is seated in a corresponding recess formed in a plug 25 which is received in the lower end of the bore 20 in the barrel I9, the plug 25 being preferably threadedly engaged within the barrel I9. By referring to Figure 2 of the drawing, it Will be seen that the plug 25 normally engages the central terminal at the upper end of the dry-cells 2, which engagement is maintained by the pressure of the coil spring II in the bottom cap 9 against the bottom of the dry-cells. Thus an electrical circuit is established between the drycells 2 and the plunger 'I which normally projects slightly above the upper face IB of the closure I2 at the upper end of the battery case 8, the plunger 'I constituting a movable contact member as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Disposed at one edge of the upper face I6 of the closure member I2 is a pair of hinge knuckles 26 which are spaced apart to receive therebetween a corresponding hinge knuckle 21 formed on the corresponding edge of a head 2S which is attached to the proximal end of the laryngeal blade 3. A hinge pin 29 extends through the hinge knuckles and constitutes the pivotal'axis about which the laryngeal blade may4 be swung to and from the respective positions illustrated in Figure 1. The hinge pin 29 is preferably threaded at one end to engage with corresponding threads in one of the hinge knuckles 26, and the opposite end of the hinge pin is preferably provided with a head 30 to facilitate removal and replacement of the hinge pin when it is desired to exchange or interchange laryngeal blades.

The head 23 of the laryngeal blade 3 is provided with a fiat face 3l generally corresponding to the fiat face I6 on the upper end of the closure member I2 with which the same is adapted to have abutting engagement when the laryngeal blade is swung to its laterally extended operative position shown in full lines in Figure 1. In order to restrain the laryngeal blade against movement when it is in its operative extended position, a latch member 32 is preferably provided to produce an interlocking engagement of the head 28 and the closure member I2 at the upper end of the battery casing 8. This latch member 32 preferably has the form of a relatively stiff leaf spring which is attached to the side of the head opposite to the hinge by means of a screw 33. The leaf spring is inwardly offset at its lower extremity to engage beneath the shoulder i5 at the upper end of the closure member I2 when the laryngeal blade assumes its operative extended position, To collapse the laryngeal blade to its folded or inoperative position shown in broken lines in Figure l, it is simply necessary to forcibly move the blade downwardly against the yielding pressure of the spring latch 32, causing the blade to swing about the hinge pin 29.

Seated centrally in the head 28 of the laryngeal blade 3 is a contact member 6 which is fixed against movement relative to the head 28, but is arranged to move with the head in swinging the laryngeal blade to and from its operative extended position. 'I'his contact member 6 is preferably seated in. an insulating sleeve or cup 35 which is fixed within the head, with the lower end of the contact member lying approximately in the plane of the face 3|. A conductor wire 35 is connected at one end to the contact member G, and leads through the head to the proximal end of the small conductor tube 31 which is attached to one side of the laryngeal blade 3 and terminates in a lamp socket 33. The conductor wire 35 extends through the tube 31 to the socket 38, where it is connected with a suitable contact within the socket for engaging a corresponding contact on the base of the lamp 5.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing description that as the laryngeal blade approaches its operative extended position, when it is swung upwardly from the broken line position shown in Figure 1, the contact member 6 will engage the contact member or plunger l, depressing the latter contact against the pressure of the spring 24 during the finalY part of the swinging movement of the blade to operatively engage the spring latch 32 with the shoulder l5. When the laryngeal blade is so positioned as just described, the contact members 5 and 'l will always be in rm engagement with each other under the influence of the spring 2li; establishing a good electrical circuit from the central pole of the dry-cells 2, through the contact members and conductor wire 36, to the lamp 5. The other side of the circuit is established through the casing 8' and other frame parts of the instrument to which one side of the lamp 5 is grounded at the socket 38; thereby completing the electrical circuit to the opposite pole of the dry-cells 2.

As an incident to collapsing or folding of the laryngeal blade 3 to its broken line position shown in Figure 1, the lamp circuit is automatically broken by disengagement of the contact 5 from the Contact 1 as the head 23 swings about the pivotal axis of the hinge pin 29. Conversely, the circuit is automatically established and the lamp energized responsive to movement of the laryngeal blade to its full line position shown in Figure 1.

The construction of the laryngeal blade will be readily understood from reference to Figures 1 and 3 to 5 inclusive, and the use of the instrument will be readily understood by those conversant with and skilled in the practice of laryngoscopy. Hence further description of the construction and use of the instrument is unnecessary.

It will be obvious from observing the collapsed form of the instrument illustrated by the broken lines in Figure 1, that it will occupy very little space in the physicians instrument kit or handbag, while beingr always ready for instantaneous use through the simple expedient of swinging the laryngeal blade from its folded position to its extended position represented in full lines in Figure 1.

While the specific details have been herein shown and described, the invention is not conned thereto, as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as deiined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A laryngeal speculum, comprising a supporting handle having a flat transverse face at one end, a laryngeal blade having a head at one end provide-d with a corresponding flat face generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade, means pivotally connecting the head of the laryngeal blade to the supporting handle with the pivotal axis of the connection arranged near one edge of the corresponding at surfaces aforesaid and transversely to the longitudinal axis of the blade, so that when the blade is swung to a laterally extended operative position relative to the supporting handle, the at surfaces will be in rm abutting engagement with each other, and yieldable d'etent means on the side of the head opposite to the pivotal connection aforesaid, and having yieldable interlocking engagement with the supporting handle, for releasably restraining the blade against movement when in the latter position, but permitting forcible swinging movement of the blade to a position alongside of and generally parallel to the supporting handle.

2. A laryngeal speculum, comprising an axially elongated tubular case adapted to receive at least one dry-cell, a cap removably connected to one end of the case, a closure member fixed to the other end of the case, a generally cylindrical head pivotally attached t0 the closure member aforesaid and having a laryngeal blade laterally recessed in the head for pivotal movement with the head from an operative laterally extended position relative to the case to an inoperative position alongside of said case, resilient latch means carried by the head and having releasable interlocking engagement with the closure member aforesaid, for releasably restraining said head and laryngeal blade against movement when the blade is in its operative position, an electric lamp carried by said laryngeal blade, and a pair of electrical contacts carried respectively by the head and closure member aforesaid and serving to automatically establish an electrical circuit to the lamp responsive to pivotal movement of the laryngeal blade to its operative extended position.

3. A ldevice as claimed in claim 2, wherein the Contact member carried by the closure member is mounted in a tubular barrel, and the tubular barrel is disposed within an insulating sleeve arranged in a bore extending through the closure member, said latter contact member being axially movable in the barrel, and a spring disposed in the barrel and normally urging the latter contact member to a position projecting slightly beyond the free end of the closure member for yieldable engagement with the contact member carried by the head which supports the laryngeal blade as the latter approaches the operative position of its pivotal movement.

4. A laryngeal speculum, comprising a supporting handle member, a laryngeal blade member pivotally connected at one end to the handle member and movable from an operative laterally extended position to a folded position alongside of said handle member, and yieldable latch means mounted on one of said handle and blade members aforesaid and coacting with a shoulder on the other of said members, for normally restraining said laryngeal blade member against pivotal movement when in its operative extended position, while permitting forcible release of the latch means on application of pressure on the blade member in a direction to swing the blade member towards the handle member.

5. A laryngeal speculum, comprising a supporting handle having a shoulder provided thereon adjacent to one end thereof, a laryngeal blade pivotally connected at one end to the supporting handle near the shoulder aforesaid and movable from an operative laterally extended position to a folded position alongside of said supporting handle, and latch means for yieldably restraining said laryngeal blade against pivotal movement when in its operative extended position, said latch means comprising a leaf spring affixed to the laryngeal blade and having automatically interlocking engagement with the shoulder on the supporting handle responsive to pivotal movement of the laryngeal blade to its operative extended position.

6. A laryngeal speculum, comprising a supporting handle and a laryngeal blade pivotally connected at one end to the supporting handle and movable from a laterally extended position to a folded position alongside of said supporting handle, electrically operable illuminating means carried by said laryngeal blade and including circuit controlling instrumentalities operable to open and closed circuit positions respectively responsive to pivotal movement of said blade to its folded and extended positions aforesaid, and quick-releasable latch means also carried by the laryngeal blade and projecting therefrom to engage with the supporting handle when the bla-de is moved 'to its laterally extended position, for restraining said laryngeal blade against pivotal movement when in its extended position, and for additionally maintaining said circuit closing instrumentalities in circuit closing position.

RICHARD voN FOREGGER. 

